Car-coupling



A'. W. BALL.

GAR GOUPLING.

(No Model.)-

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ARTHUR W. BALL, OF GALION, OHIO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,954, dated April25, 1893.

Application filed November l, 1892. Serial No. 450,602. (No model.)

.T0 afZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. BALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Galion, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplers, of whichthe following is a specification.

Myinvention has relation to improvements in that class of couplers,ordinarily known as vertical plane couplers, and in which each couplerhas a curved guard arm, and a horizontally-rocking knuckle; the union oftwo couplers being effected by the rocking knuckles interlocking, andbeing retained in that position. With the utmost care in designing,constructing and management; these couplers, known in use as draw-heads,become accidentally detached from the car, either by being broken oft,or pulled out, and falling upon or between the rails of the trackpresent an obstacle to the passage of the following cars, resulting indamage or derailment, and often with loss of human life.

The object of my invention is to prevent this result, by providing meanswhereby the draw head of one car, whether broken ott or pulled out,shall be held and supported by the draw head of the car with which it isconnected.

To the aforesaid object my invention consists in the peculiar and novelconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter describedand then specifically pointed out in the claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part ot this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference lettersindicate like parts in the different views, Figure l, is a perspectiveview of a draw head or coupler, embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, acentral hori zontal section of two couplers united, and illustrating myinvention.

As my invention is applicable to any of the various couplers embodyingthe general features hereinbefore referred to, I have selected for thepurpose of illustration a style known to the trade as the Janneycoupler.

In the drawings, A is the drawhead, having the inwardly curved guard armB, and having hinged to it the knuckle C. The inner face of the guardarm B, has a recess D,

conforming generally with said inner face, and havinga depth of from oneto three inches, depending upon the closeness with which the knuckle ofthe opposite coupler fits therein, and less in vertical height than saidknuckle. On the back of the knuckle is a lug E, arranged to enter therecess of the opposite coupler, and less in vertical height than saidrecess, so as to permit of vertical movement as the two couplers rock bythe motion of their respective cars, a notch being formed in the drawhead to permit its entrance when the knuckle is rocked outward as thecars are uncoupled.

' In operation, when the two couplers are united, and the knucklesinterlock, as shown in Fig. 2, the lug of each knuckle restsin therecess ot' the guard arm of the opposite coupler. Hence it will beapparent, that if one coupler becomes detached from its car, as bybreaking or pulling out, as its movement to become disengaged from theopposite coupler must be vertical, its descent will be arrested by thelug of its knuckle encountering the lower shoulder ot' the recess of theopposite guard arm, and it will be thus suspended, and carried with thecoupler to which it is attached, instead of falling on the track.

I claim as my invention- 1. An improved coupler of the class designated,having a recess in the inner face of the guard arm adapted to receive aprojecting lug on the knuckle of an opposite coupler, and a projectinglug on the outer tace of the knuckle, adapted to enter a recess in theguard arm of an opposite coupler, substantially as shown, and for thepurpose specified.

2. In a coupler of the class designated, the combination with the drawhead having the curved recessed guard arm, and having a notch to permitthe passage of the lug of the knuckle, of the rocking knuckle, having aprojecting lug on its outer face, substantially as shown land described,and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR W. BALL.

In presence of- J. W. COULTER, ADAM TROUCLMAN.V

